Hospital Hopping - Updates again

So last night around 10:30, I went over to visit Mom at Mercy Hospital, while Krista stayed with Lucy, and Tanya and Sean arrived shortly after I left to visit her also. Then came back and have stayed with Lucy the rest of the time.

Mom is out of surgery, and doing very well. They didn't think she would make it, yet she pulled through with flying colors to the shock of the surgeon and his staff. They only put pins in, and she will need to schedule a partial hip replacement surgery most likely after she gets stable with her liver disease. They messed up last night, and gave her two batches of platelets, and she was supposed to have gotten one batch this morning before surgery. However, it was a wonderful, God send, because when they ran her blood this morning, it was down 1 point from last night. So her body is just eating up the platelets. So then they gave her more, and kept giving them to her throughout the surgery. They plan on keeping them going for the rest of her hospital visit. They will do some rehab with her, and then it is time to care for her again - with 6-8 weeks of no weight at all on her right leg. We are still working out who she will stay with when she gets out. She will need someone to help her with all of her care - food, getting on and off the potty, getting showered, to PT and doctors appointments, etc. Cheri has a 1-story house, but she is gone at work, and looking to get a second job. Tanya and Sean can put a bed in their living room of the bottom floor - but Tanya works all day (it's tax season), so Sean would have to help Mom on and off the potty - so that isn't ideal. For Ryan and I, we have a split level house, with not one floor being on the ground level. We would need to put her in the bottom level by completely clearing out our office and putting it somewhere else in the house. It is a very small room, and will barely fit a hospital bed, commode and TV stand for her - but there is a bathroom on that same level, and there is only 3 steps to get to the garage level to get her in and out of a car when needed for therapy and doctor appointments. It really is the best option, because I am home - and can best care for her without any embarrassment to her. I will be caring for Lucy at home, and still homeschooling Emmie as well. But Mom is worried that I have too much on my plate, and although she wants to come to my house again, she is fighting it, because she doesn't want to put any extra stress on me. So we will work it all out, and let you know what happens. But as for now, she ate lunch after her surgery, and is now resting well.

As far as Lucy, she is doing really well!! She is currently in for a post-op MRI, and they are trying it without sedating her. If that doesn't work, we will have to wait and do it again. She is such a trooper, and a funny girl. She uses the doctor 1-10 scale for pain very well and accurately. Although, she doesn't complain as much about the head pain, as she complains about the IV's (she had 4 of them in at the same time, and now is down to three), as well as the bandage on her head going around under her chin, the blood pressure cuff, the oxygen monitor on her toe, etc. When I asked her where she wanted to be - if it could be anywhere in the world, she said "Home, I want to go home". Even when I told her that she could choose anywhere, even the Bahamas or Hawaii - she still said "Home". She is feeling better though, and playing on the DSi off and on. She has learned that hospitals are loud and hard to sleep in. We have been so blessed with such wonderful staff though!! All of her nurses have been amazing, although her favorite it her current nurse, John. He was the first to let her eat anything, and he can flush out her IV's and give her meds in them without her feeling it (she is very sensitive to her IV's). But Melissa (both in PICU), and her recovery nurse, Iedia (not sure of the spelling, I didn't look at her name tag) have been such a joy. Also, we had a nice visit from Dana - who works here, but is also very involved in Aquasol, Emmie's swim team - who let us know that if we needed anything to call her.

I hope this makes sense, I am going on very little sleep over the last 4 days. :-)

We are so grateful for the wonderful care, and love and prayers from friends and family. I'm so sorry I don't have time to respond individually to all of your emails, facebook and blog comments - but please know I have read every single one, and shared with Lucy your love and concern. I will let you know if we need anything, and appreciate all of the offers!! It is so amazing to feel such love and support from so many fantastic people!! Thank you!!